Inflatable umbrella and method for the production thereof

ABSTRACT

A method for producing an inflatable umbrella with a number of struts n, in which n films are positioned on top of one another in at least some regions; two films form cover layers and the other films are folded as intermediate layers and arranged between the cover layers; the films are connected along a first contour, with each pair of adjacent films being connected to each other; and the umbrella is separated from the films in at least some regions along a second contour. The invention also relates to an inflatable umbrella.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for producing an inflatable umbrella and also relates to an inflatable umbrella.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Several inflatable umbrellas, particularly for use as rain umbrellas, are known from the prior art. An important advantage of inflatable umbrellas over conventional umbrellas lies in the fact that inflatable umbrellas take up very little space when they are not inflated and can thus be carried along easily. For example, an inflatable umbrella can easily be carried in a purse or a jacket pocket. Then if it begins to rain, e.g. during a walk, then the inflatable umbrella is simply inflated, in particular blown up, so that it can then provide the user with protection from the rain. If the rain stops again or if the user has arrived at a sheltered place, then the inflatable umbrella can be folded up again by letting the air out of the umbrella. The umbrella can then once more be accommodated in a pocket or purse until the user needs the umbrella again.

An inflatable umbrella is known from DE 10 2010 032 210 A1. This inflatable umbrella has an inflatable envelope made of a flexible material and is essentially composed of a central holding element, at least three umbrella strut elements extending away from the central holding element and at least one umbrella surface element suspended by the umbrella strut elements. The central holding element and the umbrella strut elements are supported against one another, thus giving the umbrella a sufficient stability. This reference does not indicate how to produce this inflatable umbrella.

CN 101703339 A has disclosed an inflatable umbrella as well as a method and device for producing same. In the disclosed method, the umbrella body is produced, among other things, by blow-molding. The production of the umbrella by means of blow-molding, however, is not very effective since this process takes a relatively long time. In addition, the disclosed method requires additional method steps in order to obtain a functional umbrella.

The object of the invention, therefore, is to create a method for producing an inflatable umbrella, which is more effective than such methods from the prior art and in particular, is quicker and less expensive.

Another object of the invention is to create a method for producing an inflatable umbrella, in which standardized processing machines and processing materials can be used.

Another object of the invention is to create an inflatable umbrella whose design is simplified in comparison to known inflatable umbrellas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The method according to the invention for producing an inflatable umbrella with a number of struts n essentially has the following steps; these do not necessarily have to be performed in the sequence listed below:

-   -   placement of n films on top of one another in at least some         regions; two films form cover layers and the other films are         positioned as intermediate layers, folded—particularly in the         middle, and positioned between the cover layers;     -   connection of the films along a first contour, with each pair of         adjacent films being connected to each other;     -   at least partial separation of the umbrella from the film layers         along a second contour.

An exceptional feature of the method according to the invention is that conventional films can be used to produce the inflatable umbrella, which makes the method according to the invention particularly inexpensive and therefore economical. Another exceptional feature is the dependency between the number of struts of the inflatable umbrella to be produced and the number of films used. This dependency arises from the fact that the respective pairs of films adjacent to each other are connected to each other.

Through the effective arrangement of two films in the form of cover layers and of the other films as intermediate layers, it is possible to produce umbrellas with practically any number of struts. In this connection, the method is not dependent on a precise number of struts. It is particularly preferable, however, to provide at least three struts.

One important embodiment option for the appearance of the subsequent umbrella lies in the choice of the first and second contour along which the films are connected and the umbrella is separated. This contour advantageously does not correspond to a cross-sectional contour of the umbrella when used as intended. The reason for this lies in the fact that when the umbrella is inflated, individual elements of the umbrella are preferably supported against one another. In order to enable a certain prestressing force for this support, the corresponding elements, established by the contour, do not rest directly against one another during the production process. Instead, individual elements are preferably embodied by means of the contour so that in the subsequent use of the umbrella, they unfold from one position into another position as they are inflated and as a result, a stress is produced, which produces a reciprocal support.

In an advantageous modification of the method according to the invention, the at least partial separation of the umbrella from the film layers is carried out by means of perforation or punching of the films along the second contour. A perforation is particularly preferable if the umbrella is to subsequently undergo other production steps such as a labeling or coating. A further transport of the umbrella, which is still situated in the film layers, is easier because of the preferred rectangular shape of the films. A punching can be preferred if the umbrella does not have to undergo any processing steps or only has to undergo a few of them. It is likewise possible for the umbrella to be merely perforated and then shipped and/or sold to the user in this state. The final separation of the umbrella from the film layers is then carried out by the user, following the perforation.

The connection of the films is advantageously carried out by means of an adhesive and/or welding. Because of the arrangement of the films on top of one another, a welding that is performed by heating and therefore melting the films has turned out to be advantageous. Care must be taken, however, that only the respective pairs of layers situated next to each other are connected and that no more than two films are connected to form a piece.

It should be noted that the first contour and/or the second contour for different film pairs, i.e. adjacent films that are to be connected to each other, can follow different courses. Preferably, however, the first contour and the second contour are the same so that in a top view of the film layers during the production process, these contours are congruent for each of the pair of films.

Although the production of inflatable umbrellas with an odd number of struts n is likewise possible by means of the method according to the invention, it is preferable to use four, six, or eight films, meaning that the inflatable umbrella correspondingly has four, six, or eight struts. An even number of struts ensures a symmetrical structure of the inflatable umbrella, both in the uninflated and inflated state. Among other things, this facilitates the collapsing of the umbrella from the inflated state into the uninflated state as well as the handling of the inflated umbrella.

In an advantageous modification of the method according to the invention, the first contour and/or second contour form at least two strut regions, which preferably each constitute half of a strut of the inflatable umbrella. This ensures the dependency of the number of films used and the number of struts of the umbrella. Advantageously, two strut regions enclose an opening angle a between 31° and 120°, in particular between 50° and 90°. This ensures that the struts produce a sufficient tension or force in relation to a holding element on the produced umbrella, significantly contributing to the stability of the umbrella.

As has already been noted above, the intermediate layers are folded, particularly in the middle, and arranged between the cover layers. In this connection, the intermediate layers are preferably folded and arranged between the cover layers in such a way that they in fact have only a part—in particular one half—of the first contour and/or the second contour and that by means of the folding and the consequently two-layered presence of a single film, the first contour and/or second contour is nevertheless entirely present in this single film. According to a particularly preferred modification of the method according to the invention, therefore, the intermediate layers are folded in the middle and arranged between the cover layers so that the folded edges of two intermediate layers are adjacent to each other and in addition, a central axis of the cover layers is likewise adjacent to the folded edges. As a result, the first contour and/or second contour is respectively used with one half on each of the two intermediate layers, which are however folded in the middle and therefore are congruently folded in half, as a result of which, the first contour and/or the second contour is entirely present in each of the intermediate layers, folded in an intrinsically mirror-symmetrical fashion along the folded edge.

In an advantageous modification of the method according to the invention, the first contour and/or the second contour forms at least one holding element region, which preferably constitutes a part, in particular an nth part, of a central holding element. This contributes to the symmetry of the inflatable umbrella since as a result, the holding element of the umbrella is composed of n equal parts.

In another advantageous modification of the method according to the invention, the first contour and/or the second contour forms at least one umbrella surface. Preferably, however, only the second contour—along which the umbrella is at least partially separated from the film layers—constitutes the umbrella surface. This results in the fact that each umbrella surface in the inflatable umbrella that is produced is composed of a single film layer.

According to the invention, the first contour along which two respective film layers are connected to each other delimits the chamber into which air is introduced when the umbrella is inflated, as a result of which this chamber inflates and gives the umbrella its stability due to the stresses that are produced. In order to enable a simple inflation of the umbrella, preferably only one inflation chamber is provided. This is achieved in that in a border region between two strut regions and/or between a respective strut region and a holding element region, the films are not connected to each other in at least some regions. This produces a passage in the subsequent umbrella, along which air can flow from the holding element region or the chamber formed by this region to a strut region and/or a chamber produced by the latter and vice versa. An exchange of air between the struts and the holding element in the subsequent umbrella is thus easily possible, which simplifies the inflation process of the inflatable umbrella.

In an advantageous modification of the method according to the invention, the first contour and second contour overlap in at least some regions and/or are congruent in at least some regions and/or the second contour extends along the outer edge of the first contour in at least some regions. This achieves an efficient use of the film material. Particularly if the second contour extends along the outer edge of the first contour in at least some regions, the materials used can be utilized without a great amount of waste. Care must be taken, however, that a welding seam, for example, formed by the first contour along which the respective pairs of films are connected to each other, has a sufficient width even after the at least partial separation of the umbrella along the first contour. If this width is excessively reduced by the cutting to size, then in the subsequent umbrella, there is a risk of a failure of the welding seam, which would cause the umbrella to leak.

The first and/or second contour advantageously extend along an essentially uninterrupted, but intrinsically closed line. In a preferred modification of the method according to the invention, however, the first contour extends in an interrupted fashion or is interrupted at a lower end of the holding element region. The umbrella can be subsequently inflated at this location. It is nevertheless also possible to embody the first contour along a closed, i.e. continuous line. For example, the second contour can then be chosen so that it cuts out a partial region of this continuous line, thus likewise producing an opening through which the umbrella can be subsequently filled with air and thus inflated.

In order to achieve an especially pronounced stability of the umbrella to be produced, in an advantageous modification of the method according to the invention, all of the films are connected to one another in a core region that at least preferably lies on the first contour in at least some regions. This core region is advantageously situated in a region in which two strut regions meet. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the core region is situated at the subsequent location of the tip of the umbrella that will point toward the sky when it is used as intended. If all of the strut regions are connected to each other at this point, then this gives the inflatable umbrella an excellent fundamental stability.

As has already been partially described above, in another advantageous modification of the method according to the invention, the intermediate layers are folded and arranged between the cover layers so that all of the foils are situated essentially adjacent to one another along their folded edges or central axes. In addition or alternatively, in an advantageous modification of the method according to the invention, the first contour and/or the second contour extend in an axially symmetrical fashion along at least one folded edge and/or at least one central axis. This achieves a symmetrical embodiment of the umbrella and therefore an easy handling thereof.

In order to facilitate the filling of the inflatable umbrella according to the invention with air, in an advantageous modification of the method according to the invention, before and/or after the separation of the umbrella, a mouth piece is fastened to the umbrella, in particular by means of an adhesive. This mouth piece is advantageously easy to open and close in order to make it easy to inflate the umbrella and also to let the air out of the umbrella. Alternatively or in addition, the mouth piece can have a non-return valve, which makes it especially easy to inflate the umbrella. In order to let the air out, it is possible to let the air out for example by manually actuating a region of the non-return valve.

As already described above, the first contour preferably has a certain, fixed width in order to ensure the functionality of the inflatable umbrella. In advantageous modifications of the method according to the invention, the first contour has a width of 1 mm to 10 mm, in particular 3 mm to 5 mm. It has turned out that such a width is sufficient for embodying the umbrella as sufficiently resistant.

The second contour along which the umbrella is at least partially separated preferably has a width approaching 0 since the films are advantageously only separated along this contour.

In an advantageous modification of the method according to the invention, at least one umbrella surface is provided with a coating, preferably a sun protection coating and/or with printing. Alternatively or in addition, it is likewise possible to use at least partially coated films and/or films provided with printing. If printing is provided, the inflatable umbrella according to the invention can be used, for example, as an advertisement and/or a promotional gift. A coating, in particular a sun protection coating permits the inflatable umbrella to be used not only as a rain umbrella, but also as a parasol. In this connection, it is particularly advantageous to provide a phototropic coating that darkens when exposed to solar radiation, thus producing solar protection. Phototropic coatings of this kind are known from the sunglasses sector.

In an advantageous modification of the method according to the invention, tubular film is used for the films. In particular, so-called semi-tubular films are used for the intermediate layers, which films are already folded in the middle and can therefore be used directly in the method according to the invention. Preferably, a full tubular film is used for the two cover layers and is cut into two equal halves at the beginning of the method, which halves then correspondingly constitute the upper and lower cover layer. Both the semi-tubular films and the full tubular film are available at appropriate specialist shops and are most often shipped in rolls of film. The use of semi-tubular film and full tubular film makes the method according to the invention extremely economical and inexpensive.

The inflatable umbrella according to the invention with a number of struts n is in particular distinguished by the fact that the umbrella has n films, of which two films are embodied as cover layers and the other films are arranged as intermediate layers between the cover layers, with each pair of adjacent films being connected to each other. The inflatable umbrella according to the invention is advantageously produced by means of the method according to the explanations above. This embodiment of the umbrella according to the invention is particularly inexpensive to produce.

In a preferred embodiment of the umbrella according to the invention, all n films have an identical outer contour. As a result, the umbrella according to the invention has a good symmetry, which makes the umbrella according to the invention easier to handle and in particular, easier to hold. In this connection, it should be noted that also with regard to the method according to the invention, a film that has already been cut to size can also be included under the general term “film.” This is particularly true in the method according to the invention if the step in which the umbrella is at least partially separated from the film layers is carried out as a first step. Strictly speaking, in this case, all that happens is that the individual films are at least partially separated, and then they are placed one on top of another and finally connected to one another.

In a preferred embodiment of the umbrella according to the invention, the films that form an intermediate layer are folded, particularly in the middle. This also contributes to the symmetrical structure and the resulting stability of the umbrella according to the invention. Two intermediate layers are advantageously positioned adjacent to each other at their folded edges, which is likewise conducive to the symmetry.

In the non-inflated state, the inflatable umbrella according to the invention has an outer contour that is decisive for the subsequent embodiment of the umbrella. In a preferred embodiment of the umbrella according to the invention, the outer contour is essentially Y-shaped; preferably, the outer contour connects free ends of the short legs of the Y-shape, as a result of which, preferably an umbrella surface is suspended between the short legs. Among other things, the Y-shape is advantageous because it is mirror-symmetrical along a central axis. In addition, the Y-shape produces a holding element and two struts of the umbrella or parts thereof. The Y-shape is therefore particularly well suited for the inflatable umbrella according to the invention.

The Y-shape here is understood to mean that, wherever only one line is present in a Y, the umbrella contains a part of the chamber that will be filled with air when the umbrella according to the invention is inflated. These chambers or the corresponding regions in the inflatable umbrella in the non-inflated state are correspondingly encompassed by the outer contour.

While in the outer contour of the inflatable umbrella, the two free ends of the short legs are connected to each other, in the umbrella, the respective pairs of adjacent films are preferably connected to each other along a first contour, which corresponds to the Y-shape, with the free ends of the short legs not being connected. This results in an exceptional feature of the umbrella according to the invention, according to which the umbrella surfaces have a triangular basic shape and on two sides of this triangular basic shape, two respective films that are adjacent to each other are connected to each other and the films are not connected to each other on the third side.

When the umbrella is inflated, the short legs that form the struts are folded over in the direction of the holding element, which results in the fact that the struts are supported against the central holding element in the inflated state of the umbrella. In this way, the umbrella surfaces are suspended between the struts and the umbrella according to the invention has a sufficient stability.

The umbrella according to the invention can be modified in the same way, as is evident from the explanations regarding the method according to the invention for producing an inflatable umbrella. This applies in particular to the number of films, the embodiment of the films, the connection of the films, the embodiments of the border region, the strut regions, the holding element region, and the core region as well as the explanations with regard to the first contour, the second contour, the mouth piece, and the use of a coating and/or films that are coated or provided with printing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be explained and illustrated below by way of example in conjunction with six drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1: shows a top view of an embodiment of the inflatable umbrella according to the invention;

FIG. 1A: shows the detail view of detail A from FIG. 1;

FIG. 2: schematically depicts a front view of the arrangement of four films when carrying out the method according to the invention for producing an inflatable umbrella;

FIG. 3: schematically depicts an isometric view of the arrangement of the films according to FIG. 2;

FIG. 4: schematically depicts a front view of the arrangement of six films when carrying out the method according to the invention for producing an inflatable umbrella;

FIG. 5: schematically depicts an isometric view of the arrangement of films according to FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a top view of an inflatable umbrella according to the invention 1. The umbrella 1 essentially has a Y-shaped outer contour 18. The top view shows a film 2 of the umbrella 1, namely a cover layer 3. The outer contour 18 corresponds to a second contour 5 along which during production, the umbrella 1 has been separated from the films 2 that were used to produce it. The outer contour 18 or second contour 5 is therefore essentially Y-shaped; two short legs 20 of the Y-shape are connected by the outer contour 18 or second contour 5 to free ends 19 of the legs 20 that suspend an umbrella surface 8. A first contour 4 along which two adjacent films 2 of the umbrella 1 are connected to each other likewise has a Y-shape, in fact without the connection of the free ends 19 of the legs 20. The first contour 4 has a width b of a few millimeters. The outer contour 18 and the second contour 5 extend on the outside of the first contour 4. Due to the Y-shape of the first contour 4, two strut regions 10 are formed within a film 2 and two struts 6 are formed, each in connection with a respective other film. The central leg of the Y-shape comprised of the first contour 4, the second contour 5, and the outer contour 18 constitutes a holding element region 11, which together with the other holding element regions 11 of other films 2, forms a central holding element 7 of the umbrella 1. The two strut regions 10 enclose an opening angle C, which is approx. 72° in the embodiment shown.

In border regions 9 between the two strut regions 10 and between each respective strut region 10 and the holding element region 11, adjacent films 2 are not connected to each other so that the struts 6 and the central holding element 7 that are formed are spatially connected to one another so that it is possible for air to flow between these elements. In a core region 17, however, which is situated where the first contour 4 connects the two strut regions 10 to each other, all of the films 2 of the umbrella 1 are connected to one another.

The central holding element 7 has a thickened region 21. When the umbrella is inflated, the two struts 6 are folded over in the direction of the holding element 7 so that the struts 6 are supported against the thickened region 21 of the central holding element 7. Through the connection of two struts 6 by means of an umbrella surface 8, two respective struts 6 act on each other with a force that causes the struts 6 to also be supported against the thickened region 21 of the central holding element 7. This force can be influenced by the choice of the opening angle α. The smaller the opening angle α, the greater the force with which the struts 6 are supported against the thickened region 21 of the central holding element 7. This gives the umbrella 1 a good stability.

The first contour 4 is interrupted at a lower end 12 of the central holding element 7. A mouth piece 16 is inserted into the opening produced, which permits a penetration of air for inflating the umbrella according to the invention 1.

The inflatable umbrella 1 according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 can be easily folded up so that it can be easily brought along. To inflate the umbrella 1, it is only necessary to introduce air through the mouth piece 16 into the central holding element 7 and the struts 6 spatially connected thereto and care must be taken that the struts 6 fold over in the direction of the central holding element 7. The umbrella 1 can also be folded up again after it has been inflated. To carry this out, it is only necessary to let the air out of the central holding element 7 and the struts 6, preferably through the mouth piece 16. The umbrella 1 can then be folded back up and used again at a later point in time.

FIG. 1A shows the detail A from FIG. 1. This depiction particularly shows the embodiment of the first contour 4 and second contour 5, the arrangement of border regions 9 and the core region 17 at the transitions between the strut regions 10 and the holding element region 11. Above all, this figure shows that the first contour 4 has a width b and the second contour 5 extends along the outer edge of the first contour 4.

FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of four films 2 according to one embodiment of the method according to the invention. This arrangement is used for producing an umbrella 1 with four struts (n=4), which is determined by the use of four films 2. Two of the films 2 are embodied as cover layers 3 and close the film packet at the top and bottom. Between these two cover layers 3, there are two films 2 in the form of intermediate layers 13. The intermediate layers 13 are folded in the middle, i.e. are folded at a folded edge 14, and positioned so that the folded edges 14 of the two intermediate layers 13 are adjacent to each other.

As is clear from FIG. 3, the folded edges 14 of the two intermediate layers 13 are likewise adjacent to a central axis 15 of the cover layers 3. It should be emphasized here, though, that the depiction in FIGS. 2 and 3 and also that of FIGS. 4 and 5 is schematic and that in the method according to the invention, the films are advantageously situated close to one another.

FIGS. 4 and 5 correspondingly show the arrangement of six films 2 when producing an inflatable umbrella 1 with six struts (n=6). In this embodiment as well, two films 2 in the form of cover layers 3 are positioned at the top and bottom of the film packet. In this embodiment, the intermediate layers 13 are composed of four films 2. These intermediate layers 13 are also folded in the middle at folded edges 14 and are respectively positioned with their folded edges 14 adjacent to one another and to central axes 15 of the cover layers 3.

According to FIGS. 2 and 4, the intermediate layers 13 are situated symmetrically between the cover layers 3.

Based on the film arrangement according to FIGS. 2 and 3 and FIGS. 4 and 5, in one embodiment of the method according to the invention, two adjacent films 2 are connected to each other along a first contour 4. Then the umbrella 1 that is produced from the film layers 2 is at least partially separated along a second contour 5. This makes it possible to achieve a simple and efficient production of an inflatable umbrella 1. 

1. A method for producing an inflatable umbrella with a number of struts (n) comprising the following steps: placing n films on top of one another in at least some regions; with two films forming cover layers and positioning the other films as intermediate layers, folded—particularly in the middle, and positioned between the cover layers; connecting the films along a first contour, with each pair of adjacent films being connected to each other; and at least partially separating the umbrella from the films along a second contour.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least partial separation of the umbrella is carried out by perforation or punching of the films along the second contour.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein connecting the films is carried out using an adhesive and/or welding.
 4. The method according to claim 1, comprising using 4, 6 or 8 films.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first contour and/or the second contour forms at least two strut regions that each constitute half of a strut.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first contour and/or the second contour forms at least one holding element region, which constitutes an nth part of a central holding element.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first contour and/or the second contour forms at least one umbrella surface.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein in a border region between two strut regions and/or between a respective strut region and a holding element region, the films are not connected to each other in at least some regions.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first contour and second contour overlap in at least some regions and/or are congruent in at least some regions and/or the second contour extends along an outer edge of the first contour in at least some regions.
 10. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first contour extends in an interrupted fashion at a lower end of the holding element region.
 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein all of the films are connected to one another in a core region that lies on the first contour in at least some regions.
 12. The method according to claim 1, comprising folding and arranging the intermediate layers between the cover layers so that all of the films are situated essentially adjacent to one another along their folded edges or central axes.
 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first contour and/or the second contour extend in an axially symmetrical fashion on at least one folded edge and/or at least one central axis.
 14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, before and/or after separating the umbrella, fastening a mouth piece to the umbrella using an adhesive.
 15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first contour has a width of 1 mm to 10 mm.
 16. The method according to claim 1, comprising providing at least one umbrella surface with a coating and/or with printing and/or at least partially coated films and/or films with printing.
 17. An inflatable umbrella with a number of struts (n), produced using a method according to claim 1, wherein the umbrella has n films, of which two films are embodied as cover layers and the other films are arranged as intermediate layers between the cover layers, with each pair of adjacent films being connected to each other.
 18. The inflatable umbrella according to claim 17, wherein all n films have an identical outer contour.
 19. The inflatable umbrella according to claim 17, wherein the films that form an intermediate layer are folded in the middle.
 20. The inflatable umbrella according to claim 19, wherein two intermediate layers are adjacent to each other at their folded edges.
 21. The inflatable umbrella according to claim 17, wherein an outer contour is essentially Y-shaped and the outer contour connects free ends of short legs of the Y-shape, as a result of which an umbrella surface is suspended between the short legs. 